A wooden passenger boat capsized on Saturday morning at the Buriku crossing of the River Benue in Buriku Local Government Area, Benue State, killing five people and leaving six others still missing.
The vessel was transporting more than 120 passengers who were returning from a burial ceremony on the opposite bank of the river when it overturned. Rescue teams were able to pull the majority of those on board to safety, while a smaller group remained unaccounted for.
Authorities reported that initially 11 passengers were listed as missing, but five bodies have since been recovered. The victims recovered were identified as residents of the Mbayion area in Gboko Local Government Area. The search for the remaining six missing individuals continues.
“Five bodies already recovered were people from Mbayion area of Gboko LGA of Benue state,” said Saai Oryina, spokesman for the Tombo Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (TMWUN). “Rescuers initially believed that seven people were missing, but the number later rose to 11. Efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining victims.”
Oryina noted that a key challenge to water transport safety in the state is the refusal of many passengers to wear life jackets, despite the known risks of river travel. The River Benue, one of Nigeria’s major waterways, sees frequent passenger traffic, and officials emphasized the need for stricter safety compliance as the search operation proceeds.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
